Expandable Ablation Catheter with Sensor Probe for Cardiac Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac ablation devices face challenges in incorporating sensing structures that can pass through small lumens without damaging tissue and are capable of precise placement, particularly for forming ring-like lesions or sensing electrical potentials at multiple locations, which complicates device fabrication and procedure complexity.
Innovation Solution
A catheter-based apparatus with an expansible ablation device and a sensor probe featuring a floppy section with a soft polymeric tube and atraumatic tip, allowing the probe to be advanced through a continuous passageway and project out to contact heart tissue for sensing electrical signals while the ablation device forms a ring-like lesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensing structure is incorporated into the catheter to monitor electrical signals, then the ability to monitor electrical signals propagating within the heart is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both an ablation device (with ultrasonic transducer and reflector) and a sensing device (with electrodes for electrical signal monitoring). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices and simplifies the overall procedural complexity while maintaining precise measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing electrodes are integrated into the catheter structure itself, merging the sensing function with the delivery and ablation system. This integration allows the catheter to simultaneously deliver ultrasonic energy for ablation and record electrical signals from the same anatomical location, improving measurement precision without requiring separate complex sensing devices.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter is designed to advance through the patient's circulatory system to reach the heart, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device must be constrained to small dimensions which limits its functional capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter employs a dynamic structure where the distal portion can be expanded or deployed after navigation through the circulatory system. The ultrasonic reflector and transducer array can be positioned and oriented dynamically once at the target site, allowing full functional capabilities to be realized despite the constrained delivery profile required for vascular access.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter design nests multiple functional components within a compact delivery profile. The ultrasonic transducer, reflector, and sensing electrodes are all integrated within the catheter shaft, allowing the entire ablation and sensing system to be advanced through the circulatory system in a constrained state, then deployed at the target site.
3Reliability
If an expansible ablation structure is used to form a circular lesion around the pulmonary vein ostium, then the effectiveness of ablation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic reflector is designed with a curved or arcuate geometry that corresponds to the circular path around the pulmonary vein ostium. This curved reflector focuses ultrasonic energy along the circular trajectory, creating a continuous circular lesion. The curvature of the reflector simplifies the geometry of the expansible structure while maintaining effective ablation around the entire ostium.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansible ablation structure is designed to self-position or self-align with the pulmonary vein ostium once deployed. The ultrasonic reflector's geometry and the catheter's deployment mechanism work together to automatically form the correct circular configuration around the ostium without requiring complex external positioning systems, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining ablation effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective cardiac ablation with reduced tissue damage and simplified device deployment, allowing for precise monitoring and treatment of abnormal electrical impulses by facilitating the use of sensing structures that can navigate small lumens and deploy correctly around the heart.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic transducer and an expansible reflector structure. The reflector is operative to reflect and focus ultrasonic waves from the transducer into a region of tissue to be ablated
Implementation Method 2
The reflector is operative to reflect and focus ultrasonic waves from the transducer into a region of tissue to be ablated
Implementation Method 3
The reflector is operative to reflect and focus ultrasonic waves from the transducer into a region of tissue to be ablated
Implementation Method 4
applying energy or chemicals to the tissue, so as to form a scar. The scar blocks the abnormal conduction
Implementation Method 5
the electrodes pick up electrical signals propagating within the heart
Data Source
AI summary
A cardiac ablation device, including a catheter and an expandable ablation element incorporating one or more balloons at the distal end of the catheter, has a continuous passageway extending through it from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal side of the expandable ablation element. A probe carrying electrodes is introduced through this passageway and deploys, under the influence of its own resilience, to a structure incorporating a loop which is automatically aligned with the axis of the expandable ablation device, so that minimal manipulation is required to place the probe. The probe may have an atraumatic tip with a ball formed at the leading edge. The atraumatic tip prevents any tissue damage such as perforation of heart wall.